Chosen for Trouble

Posted On October 10, 2021

“You did not choose me; I chose you.
And I gave you this work: to go and produce fruit, fruit that will last.”

John 15:16 NCV

“Unhappiness on earth cultivates a hunger for heaven. By gracing us with a deep dissatisfaction, God holds our attention. The only tragedy, then, is to be satisfied prematurely. To settle for earth. To be content in a strange land. . . . We are not happy here because we are not at home here.”

Max Lucado, Grace for the Moment

As Christians, we are God’s people. We are chosen. But what, exactly, are we chosen for? I don’t feel qualified to attempt a complete answer to that question. But what I do know is this: it’s NOT for an earthly life of ease. This world is not our home. We are here to do God’s work, and that means there will be times of trouble.

While thinking and praying about a blog topic for this week, two things happened. First, I often like to have something playing on the television when I have exams to grade, so I was planning an all-day sci-fi marathon a couple of days ago. I gathered my stack of midterms, grabbed my red pen, and turned on my smart TV, expecting the usual menu screen to appear. I was thinking about some of my favorite sci-fi shows and trying to decide which one would inspire me to get my grading done. But instead of the menu screen, the “Angel Studios” channel appeared as if already chosen. We had recently added this channel to cast the show The Chosen to the TV from my phone, but it was a little weird for it to have “mysteriously” appeared like that when I first turned on the television. I figured God was trying to tell me something, so instead of my usual sci-fi, I binge-watched Season 2 of The Chosen. If you aren’t familiar with this show, it’s a crowd-funded series about the life of Jesus and His disciples. Here is a trailer for Season 2 to give you an introduction . . .

“I want My people to participate in the healing of the world. . . . I’m here to preach the Good News of the Kingdom of heaven and make a way for people to access that Kingdom.”

The Chosen

This show is excellent, and after watching it all day, I thought maybe it should be the focus of this week’s blog post, but I also had a couple of other ideas in mind. So before deciding, I went to my Spirit journal to ask for some guidance. This brings me to the second thing that happened. After writing my requests in my journal, I began my daily readings. I didn’t have to get too far into them before God answered me. My first Scripture passage, from the Scripture-writing plan I am currently following, was 2 Timothy 2:8-10:

“Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach. And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained. So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen.”

2 Timothy 2:8-10 NLT

” . . . those God has chosen.” Yeah, it jumped out at me, too. So here we are. This week our focus is on being chosen by God and where that will lead us. Ultimately, it will lead us to eternal life with Him in paradise: “in the end, the Light will overcome darkness.” But, as Jesus also pointed out in the clip above, “In this world bones will still break. Hearts will still break.” This world is still broken. The darkness strives to overcome the Light. If we choose to fight against the powers of darkness, Jesus is clear, we will face trouble (John 16:33). Are we willing to suffer and endure anything to do God’s work? . . . Jesus was.

“Expect to encounter adversity in your life, remembering that you live in a deeply fallen world. Stop trying to find a way that circumvents difficulties. The main problem with an easy life is that it masks your need for Me. When you became a Christian, I infused My very Life into you, empowering you to live on a supernatural plane by depending on Me.”

Sarah Young, Life in His Presence

“Anticipate coming face to face with impossibilities: situations totally beyond your ability to handle. This awareness of your inadequacy is not something you should try to evade. It is precisely where I want you — the best place to encounter Me in My Glory and Power. When you see armies of problems marching toward you, cry out to Me! Allow Me to fight for you. Watch Me working on your behalf, as you rest in the shadow of My Almighty Presence.”

Sarah Young, Life in His Presence

Difficulties aren’t something that distract us from living a Christian life. Often, they are an essential part of our spiritual growth. When we face struggles, our natural reaction is to seek help. If we are wise, we learn to turn to Christ for the help that we need. And that’s when the magic happens! We receive supernatural power to deal with any obstacles we must overcome, we develop roots that grow deep into Christ, and we begin a lifelong process of transformation. If everything is easy for us, we may miss out on all of this. Like a spark that ignites a flame, a time of trouble can start a chain reaction that ignites a fire in our hearts — a fire that burns for Christ. When Christ calls us to follow Him, He doesn’t promise it will be easy. He knows it will not. It certainly wasn’t easy for Him. But this fire in our hearts incinerates our old longings and desires and draws us to Him.

“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.'”

Mark 8:34 NIV

In this clip from The Chosen, Jesus is meeting with Kafni, a man whose daughter Ramah has chosen to follow Jesus. Kafni is the owner of the vineyard that provided the wine to the wedding in Cana, the scene of Jesus’ first public miracle: changing water into wine. He is indebted to Jesus for saving the reputation of his wine business, but he does not understand his daughter’s desire to join Jesus’ followers . . .

“I ask a lot of those who follow Me, but I ask little of those who do not.”

The Chosen

Jesus and Kafni both know that Kafni’s daughter Ramah, by turning from her old life and choosing to follow Jesus, is signing up for trouble. They realize it probably even more than she does. Jesus is sympathetic to Kafni and willing to listen to his concerns. He understands, and He responds to Kafni with patience, kindness, and honesty. He does the same for us. When we have questions, He wants us to come to Him. He will answer.

“Jesus knows how you feel. . . . You are precious to him. So precious that he became like you so that you would come to him. When you struggle, he listens. When you yearn, he responds. When you question, he hears. He has been there.”

Max Lucado, Grace for the Moment

Jesus admits that He asks a lot of His followers. He doesn’t force anyone to join Him. We can choose not to believe. We can choose not to devote our lives to Him. But to what end? Will that make us happy? No. We will still be left struggling and searching, but with no one to help us. Will it make life easier? Maybe some parts of it. But it will also make life seem meaningless. We were created for fellowship with God and to do the things He has planned for us to do. If we choose to ignore this calling, we will never find true fulfillment or contentment. So what do we do? As for me, I choose the trouble! I choose to deny myself, pick up my cross, and follow Him. I choose Christ. What about you?

“Within the man, God had placed a divine seed. A seed of his self. . . . The Creator had created, not a creature, but another creator. And the One who had chosen to love had created one who could love in return. Now it’s our choice.”

Max Lucado, Grace for the Moment

“The wisest response to your troubles is to surrender your will to God and grow in your relationship with Him. Keep your focus on Him. Trust His love, wisdom, and strength. If you respond the right way, you will know Him more deeply and intimately, and His purpose will be accomplished in you. You will see His glory in a way that you never thought possible.”

Charles F. Stanley, 30 Life Principles

Once we’ve chosen to follow Christ, we must learn to trust Him with every aspect of our lives. This is not easy, and it doesn’t happen overnight. We will struggle with our faith as much as we will struggle with the circumstances we face in the world. That’s why it’s so important to exercise and strengthen our faith every day. We do this by choosing to trust Christ even when every fiber of our being is screaming for us to do otherwise. Faith, like love, is not just a feeling. It’s a choice. We must choose to do it even when we don’t “feel” it. This is how our faith grows.

Often it takes trusting Christ through hardships for this growth to happen. But once we learn how to do this, it’s amazing what God can accomplish through us! Elijah called down fire from heaven (1 Kings 18:36-38). Moses parted the sea (Exodus 14:21-22). Joshua made the sun stand still in the sky (Joshua 10:12-13). Peter and Paul raised people from the dead (Acts 9:40, Acts 20:9-10). When we make ourselves available to be used by God, He can do great and even miraculous things through us. It’s not easy to follow Christ. He asks a lot of us, but He promises that He will be with us for every step of our journey. And I’ve found that He will very likely amaze us along the way!

“So I patiently accept all these troubles so that those whom God has chosen can have the salvation that is in Christ Jesus. With that salvation comes glory that never ends.”

2 Timothy 2:10 NCV

“The path of life leads upward for the wise; they leave the grave behind.”

Proverbs 15:24 NLT

This path we’ve chosen as followers of Christ is not an easy one. It is full of trouble. We will face hardships and doubts along the way. But look where it leads! We are heading to our eternal home in paradise with our loving Father. There we will have no more sorrow, no more pain, and no more death. Our heavenly home is perfect and it’s forever. Compared to our life there, our life here is just a brief journey.

But brief doesn’t mean unimportant. God has a lot He wants to teach us in this life to prepare us for the next. And He has work for us to do. Some of that work is within ourselves: learning to trust Him as we deal with trouble in our lives. And some of that work involves causing trouble for the powers of evil and darkness as we help build His Kingdom and reach others for Christ. Whatever we are called to face and whatever we are called to do, let’s remember that we are just passing through. This earth will pass away, but the Kingdom of God will last forever.

“We are not happy here because we are not supposed to be happy here. . . . And you will never be completely happy on earth simply because you were not made for earth. Oh, you will have your moments of joy. You will catch glimpses of light. You will know moments or even days of peace. But they simply do not compare with the happiness that lies ahead.”

Max Lucado, Grace for the Moment

This week’s Scipture passages remind us that we are chosen and dearly loved by God. We can choose to love Him in return by following Christ. At the end of this post I have included a fan-made video of the song “Trouble” from The Chosen that features scenes from the show. Jesus faced trouble in His life, so we should not be surprised when we do, too. In fact, we should expect it. But with Jesus by our side, we can rejoice, knowing that through our struggles we are being prepared for our heavenly home and we are being equipped to do His work. The Lord promises to strengthen us and help us no matter what we face.

So, trouble? I say, Bring it on!

“Learn to appreciate the difficult days. Be stimulated by the challenges you encounter along your way. As you journey through rough terrain with Me, gain confidence from your knowledge that together we can handle anything.”

Sarah Young, Life in His Presence

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33 NIV

References:

• The Chosen. Created by Dallas Jenkins, Angel Studios, 2017-present, https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen.
• “The Chosen – Jesus and Kafni.” YouTube, uploaded by In Medio, 6 April 2021, https://youtu.be/iBVWt-pfy0w.
• “The Chosen: Season 2 Official Trailer.” YouTube, uploaded by The Chosen, 31 March 2021, https://youtu.be/8tZ7cg4D_z8.
• Lucado, Max. Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. J. Countryman, 2000.
• Stanley, Charles F. 30 Life Principles Study Guide: A Study for Growing in Knowledge and Understanding of God. Thomas Nelson, 2008.
• “Trouble – The Chosen.” YouTube, uploaded by Pet Wwright, 23 July 2021, https://youtu.be/0V0F688Q_Bo.
• Young, Sarah. Life in His Presence: A Jesus Calling Guided Journal. Thomas Nelson, 2020.

Images:

• Trouble Ahead featured image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
• Highway image by esudroff from Pixabay (edited by me)
• Curves Ahead Road Sign image by Free-Photos from Pixabay
• Two-way Road Sign image by Gabe Raggio from Pixabay
• Path of Life image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
• Cross image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay